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Chapter 8 - BAPTISM BY FIRE

Adrian hit the ground as vampires poured through the shattered windows like a flood of death.

Kieran was a blur of movement, his sword singing through the air as he cut down the first wave. Marcus fought beside him, the two moving in perfect synchronization—a deadly dance they'd clearly perfected over centuries.

But there were too many.

Adrian crawled behind the sofa, his mind racing. He'd said he could fight, but watching Kieran literally rip a vampire's head off with his bare hands made him reassess his definition of "fighting."

"The human!" one of the vampires shrieked, spotting Adrian. "Viktor wants him alive!"

Three vampires broke away from the main fight, converging on Adrian's hiding spot. He grabbed the only weapon within reach—a very expensive-looking vase—and threw it at the nearest one.

It shattered against the vampire's face, making him stumble back. Not much, but enough.

"You little—"

The vampire's threat was cut off as Kieran appeared between them, his eyes glowing pure crimson, fangs fully extended. He looked nothing like the vulnerable man who'd cried over a painting moments ago. He looked like a god of death.

"Touch him," Kieran hissed, "and I'll make your dying last for days."

He moved, and it was beautiful and terrible all at once. The three vampires didn't stand a chance.

But while Kieran was protecting Adrian, more vampires had breached the penthouse. Marcus was overwhelmed, bleeding from multiple wounds, and—

A hand grabbed Adrian's ankle, yanking him out from behind the sofa.

"Got you," the vampire grinned, his grip crushing. "Viktor's going to reward me so well—"

Adrian didn't think. He just reacted.

His other foot came up and connected with the vampire's throat in a move his self-defense instructor would have been proud of. The vampire's grip loosened just enough for Adrian to wrench free. He scrambled backward, grabbed a shard of broken glass from the floor, and—

The vampire lunged.

Adrian thrust the glass forward.

It went through the vampire's eye socket with a wet, horrible sound. The vampire screamed, clawing at his face, and Adrian, running on pure adrenaline and terror, pushed harder.

The vampire turned to ash.

Adrian stared at his blood-covered hands, shaking. "Oh my god. Oh my god. I just killed—"

"Adrian!" Kieran's voice cut through his panic. "We need to go. Now!"

The penthouse was a war zone. Bodies and ash everywhere. Marcus was hurt but alive. And more vampires were coming—Adrian could hear them climbing the building's exterior, could see their shadows against the night sky.

Kieran grabbed Adrian's hand, pulling him toward a hidden elevator Adrian hadn't noticed before. Marcus limped after them, covering their retreat.

"Where are we going?" Adrian asked as the elevator descended rapidly, his ears popping from the speed.

"Somewhere Viktor can't follow," Kieran said grimly. "Somewhere I swore I'd never return to."

The elevator doors opened to reveal an underground garage filled with luxury vehicles. Kieran made a beeline for a motorcycle that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie.

"Get on," he ordered.

Adrian didn't argue. He climbed on behind Kieran, wrapping his arms around the vampire's waist. Kieran's body was cold—Adrian noticed it for the first time—but solid, strong, real.

The motorcycle roared to life, and they shot out of the garage into the Shanghai night, leaving behind the sounds of breaking glass and inhuman screams.

Adrian pressed his face against Kieran's back and tried very hard not to think about the fact that his life had just completely fallen apart.

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